A vehicle computer system includes one or more processors configured to receive context data representative of a vehicle's environment from one or more modules. The one or more processors are programmed and configured to receive the context data from one or more modules, determine an attention demand value utilizing the context data and a workload value corresponding to the context data, and output an indicator to activate or adjust a do not disturb feature based on the attention demand value.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A vehicle computer system, comprising: one or more processors of the vehicle computer system located in a vehicle configured to receive context data representative of a vehicle's environment from one or more vehicle sensors, wherein the one or more processors are further programmed and configured to: receive the context data from the sensors and a driver-identifier from a mobile phone in communication with the vehicle computer system; output an indicator displaying automatic selection of a do-not-disturb (DND) feature in response to an attention demand value based upon the context data and the driver-identifier received from the mobile phone; and automatically adjust to one of a plurality of configurations, wherein each configuration corresponds to an individual magnitude of inhibiting communication using the DND feature that inhibits communication to a driver.
A vehicle computer system in a car uses sensors to gather data about the driving environment. It also receives a driver identifier from a connected mobile phone. Based on the sensor data and the driver ID, the system calculates an "attention demand" value, reflecting how busy the driver is. If the attention demand is high, the system activates or adjusts a "do not disturb" (DND) feature to block or limit communications to the driver. The DND feature has multiple levels, each blocking communications to a different degree.
2. The vehicle computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a driver profile based on the driver-identifier, and wherein the driver profile includes a novice driver subscription.
The vehicle computer system, as described above, also determines a driver profile based on the driver identifier received from the mobile phone. This profile can include a "novice driver subscription," which affects how the do-not-disturb feature behaves.
3. The vehicle computer system of claim 2 , wherein the novice driver subscription is configured to adjust the configuration to inhibit incoming text messages to the driver, and wherein the novice driver subscription is further configured to prevent the configuration from being overridden.
Continuing with the previous description, the "novice driver subscription" will block incoming text messages. Also, this subscription prevents the driver from turning off or overriding the DND feature.
4. The vehicle computer system of claim 2 , wherein the driver profile includes a driving history.
Expanding on the previous description, the driver profile derived from the driver identifier includes a driving history.
5. A vehicle computer system, comprising: one or more processors of the vehicle computer system located in a vehicle configured to receive context data representative of a vehicle's environment from one or more vehicle sensors, wherein the one or more processors are further programmed and configured to: receive the context data from the one or more vehicle sensors; and a driver-identifier from a mobile phone in communication with the vehicle computer system determine an attention demand value based on the context data and the driver-identifier; in response to the determination, output an indicator displaying an automatic selection of a do-not-disturb (DND) feature that inhibits communication to a driver, wherein the feature automatically adjusts a configuration to inhibit communication based on the attention demand value and a communication-type indicative of an alert; and receive the alert to be output at the vehicle, wherein the alert is output if the alert exceeds a threshold of the configuration, or the alert is delayed to be output when the alert does not exceed the threshold.
A vehicle computer system in a car utilizes sensors to monitor the vehicle's environment. It receives a driver identifier from a connected mobile phone. Based on the environmental data and driver ID, it calculates an "attention demand" value. When the attention demand is high, the system displays an indicator suggesting activation of a "do not disturb" (DND) feature that blocks communications to the driver. The DND feature automatically adjusts its configuration, based on the attention demand value and the type of alert (text, call etc.). Incoming alerts are either blocked/delayed or output based on the current threshold defined by the DND configuration.
6. The vehicle computer system of claim 5 , wherein the alert is one or more of a text message, in-vehicle message, incoming phone call, or vehicle sensor alert.
The vehicle computer system described in the previous claim handles alerts including text messages, in-vehicle messages, incoming phone calls, and alerts from the vehicle's sensors (e.g., low tire pressure).
7. The vehicle computer system of claim 6 , wherein the driver-identifier is received from a cellular phone.
As described in the previous claims, the driver identifier is received from the driver's cellular phone.
8. The vehicle computer system of claim 5 , wherein the driver-identifier is received from a key-fob.
As an alternative to receiving the driver identifier from a cellular phone, the driver identifier can be received from a key fob.
9. The vehicle computer system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle computer system further comprises a vehicle speaker configured to output the indicator suggesting activation or adjustment of the do-not-disturb communication feature via an audible message.
In addition to the features described in previous claims, the vehicle computer system includes a speaker. This speaker provides audible messages to the driver, suggesting they activate or adjust the do-not-disturb (DND) feature.
10. The vehicle computer system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle computer system further comprises a vehicle display configured to output the indicator suggesting activation or adjustment of the do-not-disturb feature via a visual indicator.
In addition to the features described in previous claims, the vehicle computer system includes a display screen. The screen provides visual indicators to the driver, suggesting they activate or adjust the do-not-disturb (DND) feature.
11. The vehicle computer system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more vehicle sensors include a transceiver configured to communicate with an off-board server.
The vehicle computer system sensors, as described in the previous claims, include a transceiver. This transceiver communicates with a server that is located offboard (i.e., not in the vehicle).
12. The vehicle computer system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more vehicle sensors include a cellular phone in communication with the vehicle computer system.
The vehicle sensors, as described in previous claims, include a cellular phone which can communicate with the vehicle computer system.
13. A vehicle system, comprising: a processor configured to: receive context data indicating a vehicle's environment from a vehicle sensor and a driver-identifier from a mobile phone connected to the vehicle system; and output, in response to an attention demand value indicating a driver's workload using both the context data and the driver-identifier received from the mobile phone, an indicator suggesting user-adjustment of a setting inhibiting communication from the mobile phone.
A vehicle computer system uses a processor to receive context data from vehicle sensors, indicating the vehicle's environment. It also receives a driver identifier from a connected mobile phone. The system calculates an "attention demand" value based on both the context data and the driver identifier. If the attention demand is high, the system outputs an indicator, suggesting that the user adjust a setting to block communications from the mobile phone.
14. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable a selective do-not-disturb feature configured to allow an incoming communication in response to an allowed list.
The vehicle computer system from the previous description includes a selective "do not disturb" (DND) feature. This feature allows incoming communications if they are on an "allowed list" or whitelist.
15. The vehicle system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow the incoming communication to be output in response to the incoming communication being authorized on the allowed list.
As described in the previous claim, if an incoming communication is on the "allowed list," the vehicle system allows it to be output to the user.
16. The vehicle system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to disable the incoming communication from being output in response to the incoming communication not being authorized on the allowed list.
As described in the previous claims, if an incoming communication is *not* on the "allowed list," the vehicle system blocks it from being output to the user.
17. The vehicle system of claim 14 , wherein the allowed list includes a type of incoming notification to allow the type of incoming notification to be output to users.
As described in the previous claims, the "allowed list" can include types of incoming notifications (e.g. calendar alerts) to allow those types of notifications to be output to users, while blocking others.
18. The vehicle system of claim 14 , wherein the allowed list includes a communicator of the incoming communication to allow the communicator of the incoming communication to be output to users.
As described in the previous claims, the "allowed list" can include specific communicators (e.g., specific phone numbers or contacts). If a communication is from someone on the allowed list, it is output to the user.
19. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a mute-signal to the mobile phone to mute an audible notification of the mobile phone.
The vehicle computer system, as described previously, can send a mute signal to the connected mobile phone to silence the phone's audible notifications.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 19, 2015
April 4, 2017
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